Bush security plans in place

US President George Bush is arriving in Britain for a four-day state visit expected to be marked by massive demonstrations against the war in Iraq.

Mr Bush and his wife Laura will receive a private welcome from the Prince of Wales when they touch down on British soil for the first state visit accorded to an American president.

His formal schedule will begin on Wednesday with a ceremonial welcome at Buckingham Palace and he is due to hold talks with Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street on Thursday before visiting the PM's constituency of Sedgefield on Friday.

Portillo questions police role

Security forces in the capital will be on high alert, with 14,000 Metropolitan Police officers on patrol - treble the number first thought needed to cover the event.

However former Cabinet minister Michael Portillo provoked a row over President Bush's security today, by suggesting British police could not be trusted to protect the president.

Mr Portillo said police had failed to protect the Royal Family from "a joker dressed as Osama bin Laden".

Protest march agreed

The Met has reached agreement with the Stop the War Coalition over the route of a protest march expected to bring tens of thousands of protesters on to the streets of London on Thursday.

Marchers will cross Westminster Bridge to file past Parliament and up Whitehall for a rally in Trafalgar Square shortly after Mr Bush's visits to Downing Street and Westminster Abbey, where he will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

During the visit, Mr Bush will also meet relatives of British victims of September 11 as well as servicemen who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Downing Street said it is intended that the president will also talk to the families of troops killed in Iraq.